Western diplomats and relatives of foreign aid workers held by the Taliban militia for allegedly preaching Christianity left Pakistan Monday hoping to visit the prisoners in Afghanistan, officials said.
Three diplomats from Australia, Germany and the United States, plus parents of the two American detainees, flew out on a special United Nations flight bound for the Afghan capital, Pakistani airport officials said.
Earlier Monday they received visas from the Taliban embassy here to visit the two American, two Australian and four German detainees for the first time since their arrest early this month.
German consul Helmut Landes said they hoped to see the prisoners on Monday afternoon or Tuesday at the latest.
A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross was allowed to see them Sunday and reported they were in good health but relieved to finally have contact with the outside world.
The condition of 16 Afghans arrested with the Westerners is unknown.
Taliban officials say the foreigners will face trial in an Islamic court but the charges and the likely punishment have not been explained -- ISLAMABAD (AFP)
